Box Score SPOKANE, Wash. – Andrea Stump made nine saves in goal to help Whitworth overcome 21st-ranked Cal Lutheran 2-1 in the season-opening match for both schools on Friday afternoon at the Whitworth Soccer Field.
The match was played as part of the Whitworth Soccer Classic. Pacific Lutheran defeated Southwestern (Texas) 4-0 in the other opening round match. Whitworth will play Southwestern and CLU will battle PLU on Saturday.
"We are a young team this year and CLU is a very tough opponent, so this was a good test for where we are as a group," said Pirate head coach Jael Hagerott. "We were happy to come away with a win but also realize we have more work to do."
The Pirates surprised the Regals by scoring both goals in the opening minutes of the match. Tiara Pajimola got Whitworth on the board in the fifth minute when she dribbled around a defender and scored on a long shot from near the top of the 18-yard box.
Less than three minutes later Kristin Wucherer intercepted a CLU pass, fed Megan McCart, who passed back to Wucherer for a give-and-go goal.
Those two goals woke up the heavily favored Regals, who outshot the Pirates 19-5 the rest of the way.
CLU's lone goal came in the final ten seconds of the first half. Miscommunication between Stump and one of her defenders allowed Kristina Hulse to steal the ball deep in the Pirate end of the field. She fed Nicole Campbell for a point-blank goal, giving the Regals momentum heading into the locker rooms.
CLU kept the pressure on in the second half. Ten of the Regals' 13 corner kicks came after the break. But Stump stood up to the challenge, making five saves in the second half. One of those saves appeared to be a sure goal, but Stump jumped high to her left side to clear the ball over the bar. In addition to Stump's big saves, defender Sarah Mikkelson got her body between the ball and the net to prevent a Regal goal.
"Today was a tale of two halves," Hagerott said."In the first half we had a some excellent ball movement and we did a great job of finishing our opportunities. In the second half, CLU was more assertive in pushing forward and we lost some of our composure which put us on our heels a bit. I give huge credit to the team for withstanding numerous corners in the second half. Both Stump and Mickelsen came up with huge blocks to keep the ball out of the net."
Pacific Lutheran 4, Southwestern 0
Samantha Brenner scored twice to lead the Lutes to an easy victory over the Pirates of Southwestern.
PLU dominated throughout, finishing with a 27-4 edge in total shots, including a 12-4 advantage in shots on-goal. The Lutes scored twice in each half with Brenner putting in the second and third tallies.
Kaylie Rozell added a goal and an assist for the Lutes.
